Business Communication and Ethics

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:1.00

Study Course Accepted:02.04.2024 15:25:46

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SZF_097		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.67		ECTS:		4.00
Branch of Science:		Economics		Target Audience:		Marketing and Advertising
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Renāte Cāne
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		8	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		16
Classes (count)		6	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		12
Total Contact Hours								28
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		5	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		10
Classes (count)		4	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		8
Total Contact Hours								18
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Basics of business environment, organisational management and communication theory.
Objective:
To provide knowledge and develop competence in communication nature and its types, internal and external communication of an organisation (a company, institution), communication development and management in business, and the basic ethical principles that determine communication between individuals, organisations, and society as a whole. On completion of the course the students will have acquired both knowledge and practical skills required for developing and managing ethical business communication within organisations.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction to the study course (information about the contents and requirements of the course, assignments throughout the course). What is communication (definition and nature of the concept). The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. Communication and personal/corporate development. Communication as a process, its elements. Communication barriers. How to minimise communication barriers in business.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
2	Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Types of communication. Communication codes. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
6	Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	External communication within an organisation. Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within businesses.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
8	Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
9	The definition of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. The use of applied ethics, its links to business. Ethical choices in business.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
10	Ethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
11	Ethics within a business. Corporate social responsibility as a category of ethical entrepreneurship and longevity within a business.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
12	Unethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction to the study course (information about the contents and requirements of the course, assignments throughout the course). What is communication (definition and nature of the concept). The role of communication for individuals, organisations, and society. Communication and personal/corporate development. Communication as a process, its elements. Communication barriers. How to minimise communication barriers in business.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
2	Examples of communications barriers in business practice in Latvia.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Types of communication. Communication codes. Corporate logos, symbols, corporate colours, product packaging, interior design etc. as communication codes in business.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Communication codes and their use in Latvian businesses.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Internal communication within an organisation. Vertical and horizontal communication within a business. Audiences, channels, and tools for internal communication within businesses.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
8	Audiences, channels, and tools for external communication within a specific Latvian business (examples).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
9	The definition of ethics. Ethics as a philosophical discipline. The use of applied ethics, its links to business. Ethical choices in business.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
10	Ethical business practices in Latvian businesses (examples).			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Literature review; summary development; homework completion; group work – a case study, analysis, and preparation of presentations for seminars; individual report that includes: 1) identification of the basic problem for the topic and description of its manifestations in practice; 2) research and assessment of alternative opinions (including those of theorists) on the topic; 3) opinion on the results of the research, and its justification. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Attendance of lectures and seminars – compulsory. Summaries – 15%. Preparation for seminars (group work) – 20%. Participation in seminars (active participation, quality of answers) – 10%. Report – 15%. Exam – 40%.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		On completion of this study course, students will gain an understanding of the process of modern business communication, its interactions and impact on work within an organisation; they will know the principles and methods for developing and managing internal and external communication within an organisation; understand the foundations of ethics, principles of individual and professional ethics, and the necessity for adherence to ethical standards within a business environment.
Skills:		On completion of this study course, students will be able to use theoretical knowledge of business communication and ethics by performing an analysis of the business environment; will be able to assess and determine appropriate methods for carrying out internal and external communication in an organisation; will be able to critically assess entrepreneurial situations from a business ethics perspective; to identify and analyse problems caused by lack of adherence to ethical standards in business and business communication.
Competencies:		On completion of this study course, the students will be able to analyse and interpret internal and external communication codes, channels, and tools within an organisation; to determine areas for improvement in communication and ethical practice in an organisation; to evaluate professional communication from an ethics standpoint and to develop it in accordance with individual and professional ethical standards.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Veinberga, S. (2019). Komunikācija. Teorija un prakse. Rīga: Sava grāmata, 331 lpp.
2	Hannawa, A. F., & Spitzberg, B. H. (2015). Communication Competence. De Gruyter, Inc.
3	Gillis, T., IABC. (2011). The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication: A Guide to Internal Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, and Leadership. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
4	Lasmane, S. (2012). Komunikācijas ētika. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds, 304 lpp.
5	Meyer-Galow, E. (2018). Business Ethics 3. 0: The New Integral Ethics. Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
6	Communication and Media Ethics. Edited by Patrick Lee Plaisance. (2018). Boston; Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Additional Reading
1	Mautner, G., Rainer, F. (2017). Handbook of Business Communication: Linguistic Approaches. De Gruyter, Inc.
2	Kazaka, O. (2019). Pirmā PR grāmata. Rīga, 182 lpp.
3	Jones, B., Tench, R., & Sun, W. (2014). Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility: Perspectives and Practice. Emerald Publishing Limited.
4	Conaway, R. N., & Laasch, O. (2012). Communication in Responsible Business: Strategies, Concepts, and Cases. Business Expert Press.
5	Machado, C., Starr-Glass, D., Davim, J. C., Bràs, F. A., Sanz, G. C., et.al. (2018). Micro MBA: Theory and Practice. De Gruyter, Inc.
6	Rocci, A., & de Saussure, L. (2016). Verbal Communication. De Gruyter, Inc.
7	DiMarco, J. (2017). Commmunications Writing and Design: The Integrated Manual for Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.